Black Enrollment Decline at Harvard After Affirmative Action Ruling

Summary

This decline reflects broader trends across several elite institutions, as schools navigate the implications of the ruling. For instance, Columbia University saw Black freshman enrollment plummet from 20% to 12%, while the University of North Carolina experienced a decrease from nearly 11% to about 8%. In contrast, the percentage of Latino students at Harvard increased from 14% to 16%, and Asian American enrollment remained stable at 37%. The Supreme Court’s decision was influenced by claims that affirmative action policies disadvantaged Asian American applicants, prompting elite schools to reassess their admissions strategies. As they adapt to the new landscape, many institutions are working to implement race-neutral policies aimed at maintaining diversity, though the immediate data suggests challenges ahead for underrepresented groups.